Suspension component failures are the ‘three-year glitch’ most likely to cause a car to fail its first MOT, according to Warranty Direct.

The automotive insurance specialist analysed thousands of three and four-year old cars and found that the average repair cost for cars typically leaving their manufacturer warranty period is £338.

Last month, Warranty Direct launched an initiative to offer drivers of three-year old cars their first MOT test fee, costing just under £55, for free by registering at www.warrantydirect.co.uk/firstmotfree.

The safety-critical ABS braking system is the second most likely part to cause extra expense at the first MOT, costing £667 to fix. The turbocharger – fitted to nearly all diesel and many petrol cars – is the most costly repair item on the list, coming in at more than £750.

It’s not only complex systems that suffer premature failure – parts of the exhaust can break or wear out when a car is still comparatively young.

Parts most likely to fail between years three and four

Part Description

Ave cost (£)

1

Springs & Shocks

237.28

2

ABS System

667.04

3

Upper & Lower Arms

309.44

4

Turbo

751.48

5

Exhaust System

432.30

Warranty Direct managing director, Duncan McClure Fisher, said: “A car’s first MOT is a milestone in its life and memorable but not always for the right reasons.

“Three years is the age at which cars usually lose their manufacturer cover and it’s no accident that it’s also typically when some parts start wearing out.

“It’s also no surprise that a car’s springs and shock absorbers are the first items to go wrong, given the shocking state of the UK’s roads.”

By registering at least 30 days before the third anniversary of the car’s original registration date at www.warrantydirect.co.uk/firstmotfree, vehicles can be booked into one of 550 Kwik Fit workshops for a free MOT.

Industry leading direct to consumer car warranty provider, Warranty Direct, has teamed up with Kwik Fit to offer drivers of three-year old cars the chance to get their first MOT test fee for free.

With nearly a million more cars failing their MOT test in 2010 than three years ago, drivers can avoid the test fee, which amounts to almost £55, by registering at www.warrantydirect.co.uk/mot .

The number of cars failing their MOT increased by more than 2% over the last three years, to 40.6% in 2010. That equates to an extra 976,000 vehicles*. Coincidentally, three years is traditionally the age at which cars start displaying signs of wear and tear and typically leave the protective umbrella of a manufacturer warranty.

Cars registered at least 30 days before the third anniversary of their original registration date can then be booked into one of 550 Kwik Fit workshops for a free MOT. Even non-qualifying cars can receive 45 per cent off the MOT test fee.

If drivers take up the no-obligation quote for an extended warranty offered by Warranty Direct as part of the registration process, they will also get their MOT fees paid for every year for the life of the warranty.

Duncan McClure Fisher, managing director of Warranty Direct, said: “Three years of age is generally a landmark age for a car. In most cases, it stops being covered by the manufacturer’s warranty and things start going wrong and wearing out.

“With times being as tough as they are economically, the legal requirement of the MOT test is an additional burden on the household budget that we could all do without, although the test itself remains essential for road safety.”

In order to qualify for the free MOT fee offer, cars must be registered at least 30 days before the third anniversary of their original registration date and must also have an original manufacturer’s warranty that expires on or before the third anniversary.

Visit www.warrantydirect.co.uk/mot for more information, plus terms, conditions and exclusions.